POLSC251: Research Methods in Political Science

Unit 3: Research Design
*Before conducting any research, you must create a logical research
plan. This unit will detail the standard structure of a research
article/project, identify the steps that you should take in order to
formulate a strong research design, and present you with an introduction
to various types of research designs used in political science in the
process.

After detailing the standard structure of a research article/project,
we will take a careful look at causal relationships and how they (or
assumptions about them) play into research in political science. In
previous courses, you learned how to identify and analyze empirical or
observable relationships between two variables. In scientific research,
however, you must identify the causal relationship between two variables
in order to determine whether certain factors produce a particular
outcome.

You will then explore the many types of research designs that political
scientists use, focusing first on experimental designs, where political
scientists manipulate and control variables in unnatural environments in
order to test their theories. We will discuss how different experiments
are designed and used and weigh their potential strengths and
weaknesses. The unit will then present other types of research design,
including surveys, data collection pertaining to naturally occurring
phenomena, and case studies. Each of these research designs plays an
important role within the discipline, though all have drawbacks.*

Unit 3 Time Advisory
This unit should take you approximately 18 hours to complete.

☐ Subunit 3.1: 30 minutes

☐ Subunit 3.2: 1 hour

☐ Subunit 3.3: 2 hours

☐ Subunit 3.4: 5 hours

☐ Subunit 3.4.1–3.4.3: 2.5 hours

☐ Subunit 3.4.4: 2.5 hours

☐ Subunit 3.5: 9.5 hours

☐ Subunit 3.5.1: 4 hours

☐ Subunit 3.5.2: 2.5 hours

☐ Subunit 3.5.3: 3 hours

Unit3 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, you should be able to
- describe the structure of a standard research article;
- discuss factors that go into making causal inferences;
- distinguish between experimental and non-experimental research
designs; and
- describe the basics of research designs standard in political
science.

Instructions: Please read this webpage. This short summary provides
the basic components of a standard research article. There will be
examples of articles that conform to this typical format later in
this unit.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

3.2 A General Description of Research Design
- Reading: A General Description of Research Design
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

Instructions: Watch this brief 2-minute video. This video serves as
a preface to the material that will be covered in Subunits 3.3.2 and
3.3.3.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

3.3.2 Causation vs. Correlation
- Reading: George Mason University’s Statistical Assessment Service:
“What Is the Difference between Causation and Correlation?”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

[Submit Materials](/contribute/)

3.3.3 Causation vs. Spurious Associations and Coincidence
- Reading: Carnegie Mellon University: Richard Scheines’
“Causation”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

[Submit Materials](/contribute/)

3.4 Experimental Design
- Reading: Experimental Design
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture
titled “Experiments,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this
lecture, which is approximately 25 minutes long, for an overview of
how experimental research works.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

3.4.1 Grouping: Test Group and the Control GroupNote: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. Pay
close attention to the discussion of these concepts in the lecture and
how Cabanacand Bonniot-Cabanac set up the groups in their experiment.

3.4.2 The Importance of Random AssignmentNote: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. Pay
close attention to the discussion of these concepts in the lecture and
to the way Cabanacand Bonniot-Cabanac incorporate random selection into
their design.

3.4.3 Strengths/Weaknesses of Experimental DesignNote: This topic is covered by the material beneath subunit 3.4. The
strengths and weaknesses of experimental design are addressed throughout
the lecture.

Instructions: Please read the sections titled “Quasi-Experimental
Design” through “Advances in Quasi-Experimentation.” Also click on
each of the hyperlinks in the assigned article and read those as
well. This article gives full coverage of various types of
quasi-experiments.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture
titled “Survey Building,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to
this lecture, which is approximately 11 minutes long, for an
overview on how to design surveys.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture
titled “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys,” and click on “View in
iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 11 minutes
long, for an overview on how to conduct surveys.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture
titled “Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys,” and click on “View in
iTunes.” Listen to this lecture, which is approximately 7 minutes
long, for an overview on the validity of surveys.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Reading: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA):
Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: Min Xia’s “Social Capital and
Rural Grassroots Governance in China”
Link: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal
of Current Chinese Affairs: Min Xia’s “Social Capital and Rural
Grassroots Governance in
China”
(PDF)

Reading: Survey Research
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

3.5.2 Case Studies
- Reading: Case Studies
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides a basic
description of how to approach historical analysis. Pay attention to
the three “Cs” and the four spheres described in this article.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: After clicking the above link, scroll to the lecture
titled “Historical,” and click on “View in iTunes.” Listen to this
lecture, which is approximately 2 minutes long, for an overview on
the process of historical analysis.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Reading: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA):
Journal of Current Chinese Affairs: James W.Y. Wang’s “The
Political Economy of Collective Labour Legislation in Taiwan”
Link: German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): Journal
of Current Chinese Affairs: James W.Y. Wang’s “The Political
Economy of Collective Labour Legislation in
Taiwan” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read this article, which provides an example
of historical analysis.

Instructions: Aaron Lijphart’s writings and books on comparative
politics and method are considered among the best and most
comprehensive. Read this summary of Lijphart’s important work.
Terms of Use:Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: Watch the lecture on conducting research in
comparative politics.

Terms of Use:Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

3.5.5 Developing Your Own Research QuestionsNote: Each of the above sub-units presented different methods for
tackling research questions. Developing and writing research questions
are often a challenge for beginning researchers. The two articles below
are meant to offer insight in how to develop research question and how
to write a research question.

Reading: Empire State College Online Writing Center: “Developing a
Research Question”
Link: Empire State College Online Writing Center: “Developing a
Research
Question”
(HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article.

Terms of Use:Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Reading: George Mason University Writing Center: “How to Write a
Research Question”
Link: George Mason University Writing Center: “How to Write a
Research Question” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read this article.

Terms of Use:Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: This is an optional article. Mixed methods approaches
integrating quantitative and qualitative designs often offer the
most rigorous approaches to addressing research questions. This site
offers examples of mixed method approaches in the context of the
health sciences.

Terms of Use:Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.